Mashup: Homecoming for mourning McHale

Wed, 12/26/2012 - 8:01am — Jerry Spar

Rockets coach (and Celtics legend) Kevin McHale is set to make an emotional return to Minneapolis on Wednesday night. McHale, a Minnesota native who spent 16 years working for the Timberwolves as a TV analyst, executive and coach, raised his children in the area. This is his first visit to Target Center since the Nov. 24 death of his 23-year-old daughter, Sasha, from lupus. McHale's wife and four remaining children will attend the game as well.

Following Tuesday night's victory over the Bulls, the Rockets are 6-3 since McHale returned to the team for a Dec. 8 game against the Mavericks. That includes a Dec. 14 victory over the Celtics, after which former Timberwolves star Kevin Garnett gave McHale a long embrace.

"Everywhere we go, somebody comes up to him to give him a big hug," Rockets assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff told the Pioneer Press newspaper in Minnesota. "Over the last 33 years or so, his touch has been felt all over the NBA. It's hard to find people who don't like Kevin McHale, who weren't touched by him in some way."